Radcliffe Borough 3, Chorley 2

A DISAPPOINTING night for Chorley and their large following as the Magpies contrived to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

Indeed, the game began badly as well for Chorley with Radcliffe taking a fifth minute lead when Collins got clean to hammer his shot past the helpless Marsh.

The remainder of the first half was evenly fought with Chorley close to levelling when Wallace's inswinging corner bounced clean off the bar. Right on half-time Chorley equalised when Kelly miskicked Barker's cross leaving Swailes with a straightforward finish.

Five minutes after the restart the Magpies went ahead when the referee adjudged Kelly's challenge on Swailes to be worth a penalty which Mills fired into the corner.

Chorley were now on top and Wallace produced a flying save while Fisher headed narrowly wide from Flemming's inch-perfect cross.

Barker missed a glorious chance to make it 3-1, shooting wide with only the keeper to beat.

The miss was to be regretted as, with five minutes left, the referee awarded his second questionable penalty of the half.

Leather was penalised for a handball and substitute Dempsey made no mistake from the spot.

In the last minute came disaster. Hook's weak goal-kick went straight to Carden who sprinted through to fire the winner past Marsh, and leave Chorley and their noisy fans stunned.

It was a devastating ending to a match the Magpies should have had well sewn up and was the first time Radcliffe had beaten Chorley in over 17 years.

The defeat cost Chorley the opportunity of snapping at the heels of the league leaders and going above both Workington Town, whom they entertained on Tuesday night, and also Ossett Town whom they travel to play on Saturday. TIP TOP! : Eric Hart, a member of the Unibond League management committee, presents Chorley skipper Paul Fleming with a portable television set for the Sports.Com Performance of the Month in recognition of the Magpies' 8-1 hammering of Lincoln United on August 27. It was the club's biggest win for more than 20 years.